Safety mechanism for dye kettles and the like



Oct. 29, 1946- J. H. HlGGlNSON ET AL 2,410,214

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR DYE KETTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2Sheets- Sheet 1 irry.

29, 1946- J. H. HIGGINSON ET AL 2,410,214

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR DYE KETTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 29, 1 943 SAFETY MECHANISM FOR DYE KETTLESAND THE LIKE Joseph H. Higginson and Homer C. Riggs, An-

dover, Mass, assignors to Riggs & Lombard, Inc., Lowell, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application January 7, 1944, Serial No.517,460

3 Claims.

This invention relates to safety mechanism for closing an opening in areceptacle containing fluid underpressure, and the general purpose ofthe invention is to provide mechanism for preventing release of thecover so long as fluid pressure in the receptacle is maintained.

More particularly the invention relates to improvements in stock dyekettles, or other receptacles, containing hot dye, or other liquid,which is circulated under pressure through the stock in the kettle andwhich are provided with a sampling hole or aperture through which asample of the stock in the kettle can be obtained, or the condition ofthe material in the receptacle can be determined.

In usual dye kettles or the like the aperture is provided with a coverwhich is clamped firmly over the aperture by detachable means so thatthe cover can be removed to obtain access to the material within thekettle. If the cover is released before the fluid pressure of thematerial is released the hot vapors issuing from the aperture is apt toinjure'the operator.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a safetycover construction for the sampling hole or aperture in the dye kettleor the like, or more broadly stated to provide a cover mechanism forclosing an opening in a receptacle containing fluid under pressure whichcannot be released or removed so long as pressure in the dye kettle orreceptacle is maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for moreeffectively clamping-the cover upon the opening and formaintainingthecover in such clamped position until fluid pres sure in the container isreleased.

These and other objects andf eatures of the. invention will morefullyappear from the following description and the accompanying drawingsand will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated hereinas appliedto the cover plate of a stock dye kettle of the type illustrated anddescribed in our prior Patent No. 2,275,818 granted March 10, 1942, butis adapted to othertypes of dye kettles in which the hot dye liquor iscirculated in a closed container provided with a.

Inasmuch as the general 5 consampling hole. 7 struction of the dyekettle is disclosed in, our

prior patent aforesaid only such upper portion of the kettle and coveris illustrated herein as is,

necessary to illustrate the novel construction forming the subjectmatter of the present in} vention. v

In the drawings: 'i Fig. 1 is a view, mainlyin vertical section, of

' the upper portion of the dye kettle and the cover plate thereforprovided with a sampling hole and cover mechanism embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, portions of the cover plate beingbroken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view in diametrical vertical sectionshowing the cylindrical wall surrounding the sampling hole and covertherefor and the preferred mechanism for locking the cover in closedposition; and,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the construction shown in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in Vertical section of a modified form ofmechanism for locking the cover to the sampling hole in closed position.

The dye kettle, which may be of any suitable construction preferably ofthe type illustrated inour patent aforesaid, for containing the stock tobe dyed with means for circulating hot dye liquor through the stock isprovided with a vertical cylindrical wall I and the stock is supportedupon 7 a suitable removable carrier having a central cured by a bolt Hto the apex portion of divergtubular perforated standard through whichheated dye liquor is forced under pressure into and upon the material onthe carrier. The upper end of the standard 2 has secured to it a clevisadapted to be engaged by means for lifting the carrier out of thekettle. The cylindrical wall I is provided adjacent its upper end with aperipheral angle bar flange 3 having a rib 4 spaced from the wall I toprovide a seat for a gasket 5 of suitable material upon which theperipheral portion of a cover plate 6 is mounted. The cover plate 6preferably has an upwardly concave central portion and a vertical wall 1adjacent its periphery and is reinforced byradial girders 8 weldedthereto and to said peripheral wall and to a central hub 10. A circulartop plate 9 desirably is mounted upon the girders 8 to form a finishedcover plate construction. The central hub: I0 is seing lifting arms '12having means (not shown) for swinging the cover plate constructionupwardly out of the path of the stock carrier of the kettle when thelatter is lifted out of the kettle.

A flange l3 complementary to the flange 3 on the upper end of the kettleextends outwardly from the wall 1 and overlies the periphery of thecover plate 6. Suitable means are provided for clamping the cover plateconstruction upon the gasket "5, such as equally spaced clamps l4pivotally mounted inbrackets l5 secured to the angle bar flange member 3and provided with a screw l6 having a headl'l to engage the flange l3and actuating handles 18.

The top plate 9 has a suitable opening H! to permit access to the coverfor a sampling hole 29 in the cover plate located in convenientproximity to the periphery of the kettle. A cylindrical wall 2!, whichis welded to the cover plate 6, surrounds the periphery of the apertureThe cover 22. for the sampling hole comprises a flat plate having adownwardly extending flange 23 which telescopically surrounds theperipheral wall 2! of the sampling hole.

Suitable means are provided for locking and? provided with suitableinterengaging membersadapted when interengaged tohold or clamp thegasket of the cover tightly upon the peripheral wall 2! of the samplinghole. In the preferred construction the interengaging members comprise aplurality of pairs of diametrically opposite pins 26 which are mountedupon andextend outwardly from the peripheral wall 21 of the samplinghole. The flange 23 of the cover is provided with bayonet slots adaptedto engage the respective pins 26 and comprise a. vertical entrance 2'!which communicates with alaterally and Slightly upwardly extending slot28 so that when the cover is placed upon the wall 2| of the samplinghole the pins 2% will enter the vertical slot and upon rotative movementof the cover in a proper direction will force the cover downwardly so asto compress the gasket firmly upon the upper end of the wall.

Suitable means are provided for retaining the interengaging members inengagement so long as fluid pressure is maintained in the kettle. In thepreferred construction illustrated a series of ratchet teeth 23 areformed on the under face of the outwardly extending rim 30 of the coverand are adapted to be engaged by. a suitable latch 3| which is forcedinto such. engagement. by the fluid pressure within the kettle.

In the construction illustrated the latch Si is integral with. or issecured to a cross head 32 which is reciprocably mounted in a sleeve 33provided with an externally threaded lower end which engages a block 34which is welded or otherwise secured to the cover plate 6. A lever 35extends diametrically through suitable openings in the sleeve 33 andcross head 32 and is fulcrumed upon a pin 36 which is mounted in a bossextending from the wall of the sleeve 33. The lever 35 is provided witha slot 37 which is engaged by a pin 38 which is mounted in the; crosshead and extends through the slot 31. The opposite end of the lever35'is likewise provided with a slot 39 which is engaged by a pin 40which is mounted in the bifurcated end portion of a 44 is so constructedthat its upper surface will engage the inclined under face of the coverplates,

6 and the lower faceof thering wi1l,be in horizontal position at rightangles to the axis of the piston rod ll. The ring 44 may be welded orotherwise secured to the under face of the cover plate 6.

A coiled spring 4i, which surrounds the latch 3i, and is interposedbetween the upper end of the cross head 32 and a flange 48 on the sleeve33,

normally forces the latch downwardly out of ratchet-engaging positionand likewise causes the lever 35 to depress the diaphragm into theposition illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

In the.- operation of the device the carrier of the kettle; isloaded:'With stock to be dyed, or otherwise treated, while the cover plate isheld in open position. The cover plate is then swung to closed positionand secured firmly upon the kettle by the clamps l4;

Thehan'd hole cover 22 is then lowered through the opening l5 in theupper plate 8 of the kettle cover with its flange 23 telescopicallysurrounding. the peripheral Wall 2! of the sampling hole.

The cover is thenmanipulated to cause thepins 26, which extend outwardlyfrom the wall 2i, to enter the vertical portion 21 of the bayonet slots.The cover is then rotated in a direction to cause the pins to ride onthe inclined-lower wall of the portion 28 of the bayonet slot, thusforcing the cover and its gasket. 25 downwardly and. firmly sealing itupon the upper end of the wall 2.1- of the sampling hole.

When the hot dye liquor is. forced into the kettle the vapors therefromproduce suflicient fluid pressure in the upper portion of the kettle toforce the diaphragm 43' upwardly thereby. causing the piston rod M toraise the outer end of the lever' 35 and raise the latch into engagementwith the ratchet teeth 29. on the under face of the projecting rim 3!)of the cover, thus locking the cover against reverse rotation andmaintaining the interengaging members of the cover in locked posi-. tionso long as fluid pressure in the kettle, is maintained.

By reason of thisconstruction thecover is ab- I solutely prevented fromremoval until release of the fluid pressure in the kettle when thespring 41 will force the latch downwardly into an operative position.The rim of the cover can then be readily grasped by the hands of the.operator and the cover reversely rotated and removed to permit samplingof the stock in the kettle or examination of the conditions-which obtainwithin the kettle.

It will be noted that by reason of the ratchet and latch constructionthe cover may be rotated arm which is pivotally mounted'upon theperiph;

eral Wall which surrounds the-sampling hole and extends diametricallyover the cover and is connected centrally thereto with clamping meansengaging the opposite end'of the arm to hold the cover in closedposition and means operableby the fluid pressure in the kettletopreventrelease of the clamping means so long as fluid-pressure is maintained inthe kettle.

As illustrated in Fig. 5 a vertical ear or ears 49 are welded to.theperipheral wall 21 of the opening it) and a lever 50, which ispivotally mounted on the ear or ears 49, extends upwardly and .thencediametrically across the cover 22. The lever 50 is provided with a stud5|, located centrally over the cover 22, the lower end of which extendsinto the space between a pair of bosses 52 and 53 which are preferablyintegral with and extend upwardly from the central portion of the cover.nected to the bosses52 and 53 by a pin 54. The upper end of the studextends through the lever 50 and is secured thereto by a transverse pin55. The free end of the lever is provided with a bifurcated end portion56 and the upper edge of the lever is provided with a curved portion 51which forms a seat for a hand wheel 58 the hub of which is provided witha screw threaded bore in which is mounted a screw threaded rod 59 havingat its lower end an integral enlarged cylindrical portion 60 which isjournaled on a stud 6| which is mounted in ears 62 which are welded toand extend outwardly from the peripheral wall 2| which surrounds thesampling hole 20. The cylindrical portion 60 of the rod 59 is providedwith a series of ratchet teeth 63 adapted to be engaged by a lockingpawl 64 which is slidably mounted in the upper wall of an invertedhollow cylindrical boss 65 which is Welded to the cover plate 60 of thekettle. The locking pawl 64 is forced into locking position by meanssubject to the fluid pressure within the kettle which, as illustrated inFig. 5, is similar to that shown in detail in Fig. 3. In theconstruction shown in Fig. 5 the lower end of the locking pawl 64 has anenlarged cylindrical portion 66 which, like the piston rod 4|, shown inFig. 3, is integral with or has secured to it a disk 42 which engages aflexible diaphragm 43 which is mounted on the under face of the ring 44and clamped upon it by a ring 45 and screws 46. v

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. 5 the lever 50, whichcarries the cover 22, is swung to closed position, as illustrated infull lines in Fig. 5, so that the cover fits tightly upon the gasket 25and clamps the latter firmly upon the upper end of the peripheral wall2! of the sampling hole. The rod 59 is swung about its pivot 6| into thebifurcated end of the lever 56 and the hand wheel 58 then screwed downtightly clamping the cover in place. When fluid pressure builds up inthe kettle the diaphragm 43 is forced upwardly thereby raising thelocking pawl 64 into engagement with a tooth of the ratchet 63, thuspreventing the clamping rod 59 and hand wheel 58 from being swung out ofengagement with the lever 59 so that the cover cannot be removed untilrelease of the fluid pressure in the kettle.

It will be noted that the bifurcation in the end of the lever extendssomewhat beyond the vertical position of the rod 59 and that the lowerend of the hub of the hand wheel 58 is circularly curved to fit upon thecomplementary circular seat 51 upon the lever 50. This enablesthe rod 59to be swung sufiiciently to cause a proper tooth in the ratchet tobe'engaged by the pawl 64 and hold the cover down upon the gasket 25with sufficient pressure to prevent the escape of any gaseous fluidunder pressure from the sampling hole.

Suitable means are provided for releasing the pawl when fluid pressurein the kettle is relieved. This desirably is accomplished by a coiledspring 61 which is interposed between the cylindrical portion 66 of thepawl and the upper wall of the The stud 5| is pivotallyconboss 65., Whenfluid pressure in the kettle is re leased the spring 61 will force thepawl 64 downto be swung outwardly over the end of the lever 59 to dottedposition illustrated in Fig. 5. The

lever may then be swung upwardly and later-,.

ally thusremoving the cover to the dotted position illustrated in Fig.5, thereby uncovering the sampling hole and permitting access tothecontents of thekettle. This construction presents} certain advantagesover that illustrated in Figs.

1-3 in that the cover is always connected to the cover plate of thekettle instead of being freely removable from it.

It is obvious that the invention is applicable to other types of stockdyeing kettles or to any type of receptacle containing fluid underpressure with respect to which it is desirable to have an opening fordetermining the condition of the contents of the receptacle.

It is to be understood that the preferred embodiment of the inventionshown and described herein is of an illustrative character and thatother forms of interengaging and'locking mechanism may be employedwithin the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. Safety closure mechanism for the sampling hole in a stock dye kettleor the like containing fluid under pressure and having a cover plateprovided with an outwardly extending cylindrical wall surrounding thesampling hole comprising a cover for said sampling hole having a flangetelescopically and rotatably fitting said wall, cooperating means onsaid cover flange and wall operable upon rotation of the cover in onedirection to clamp the cover on said wall and upon rotation in theopposite direction to release the cover therefrom, a peripheral rim onsaid cover provided with a series of recesses, a latch reciprocablymounted on the cover plate of said kettle in cooperative relation to therecess in said rim, and means operable by the fluid under pressure insaid kettle to maintain the latch in engagement with a recess in saidrim so long as fluid pressure in the kettle is maintained. 2. Safetyclosure mechanism for the sampling hole in a stock dye kettle or thelike containing fluid under pressure and having a cover plate providedwith an outwardly extending cylindrical wall surrounding the samplinghole, comprising a cover for said sampling hole having a flangetelescopically and rotatably fitting said wall, a gasket between the endof said wall and cover, complementary bayonet and slot connection onsaid flange and wall movable by rotation of said cover intointerengagement in which slots on the cover are so inclined as to clampthe cover and gasket upon said wall, a peripheral rim on said coverprovided with a series of ratchet teeth, a latch mounted on the coverplate of said kettle adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet, andmeans operable by fluid under pressure in said kettle to maintain thelatch in engagement with the ratchet so long as pressure in the kettleis maintained, and means withdrawing the latch from such engagement uponrelease of said fiuid pressure to permit reverse rotation and removal ofsaid cover upon release of said fluid pressure.

3. Closure mechanism for the sampling hole of a stock dye kettle or thelike containing fluid upon? said wall, a peripheral rim on said coverprovided with a series of ratchet: teeth, alatch reciprocably mounted onthe. cover plate. of. said kettle adapted to engage the teeth of said'ratch et', a," latch-operating leverxmounted on the; cover plate ofsaid,kett1e,.a diaphragm Within saidkettle subject to the fluid.pressure therein having,

means engaging said lever' operable to maintain said latch in engagementwith said ratchet teeth so long as pressure ismaintained in said kettle,and a spring'acting upon said latch to withdraw it from engagement withsaid ratchet teeth upon 10 release of fluid pressure invthe kettle;

JOSEPH H'. HIGGINVSONL HOMER c. RIGGS.

